Statewide primary

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For a political junkie, it doesn't get any better than this.

Big money, nasty mailers, two determined candidates - the GOP primary in the 33rd state Senate District has it all.

"It's good theater," said Matt Cunningham online editor of the RedCounty.com blog. "I can't remember a local legislative race that went this negative, this early."

In one corner stands Assemblywoman Mimi Walters, a Republican darling who's received a boatload of establishment endorsements, including one from the district's current representative, former Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman.

In the other corner is Anaheim City Councilman Harry Sidhu, the upstart with deep pockets who's not afraid to mix it up - or fund the campaign himself.

Both brandish sterling conservative credentials, a must in this heavily Republican district that loops along the eastern edge of the county, from Fullerton to San Juan Capistrano.

And both are accomplished fundraisers, with war chests well into the six figures. At the last filing deadline in mid-March, Walters reported a cash balance of $770,000 while Sidhu had $593,000.

So in a race where neither candidate has a clear advantage, the campaign has turned ugly. Over the air waves and in campaign mailers, Walters and Sidhu have pounded each other over missed votes and positions on illegal immigration.

One Walters mailer blasts Sidhu for accepting 1,252 tax free tickets to events at the Honda Center, a perk offered to all Anaheim City Council members.

A Sidhu TV spot calls out Walters for twice voting for Democrat Fabian Nunez for Assembly Speaker and ends with the clincher, "Harry Sidhu for Senate, The Real Republican."

"People are sick and tired of the existing Sacramento legislators," said Sidhu, in explaining his aggressive campaign strategy. "I want people to know why they are sick and tired of it."

A fast food chain developer, Sidhu is immensely wealthy, loaning $100,000 to his campaign. "Money is not an issue," says the Indian immigrant.His seemingly limitless bank account has forced Walters, an accomplished fundraiser, to kick her operations into full gear. She says she's raised more than $1 million.

"It's very expensive to get your message out to the voters," Walters said. "I'm taking this election very seriously. He is a wealthy man."

Walters says Sidhu has distorted her record - she says, for example, there's no record of her voting for Nunez - but adds she's not surprised by the negative tone. She views herself as the front runner given her experience and impressive endorsements.

"The only way he has a chance to beat me is to attack me," she said.

Knocking her off won't be easy. Walters says her voting record has earned perfect scores from several conservative groups - the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the California Chamber of Commerce, and the California Republican Assembly.

And in four years in the Assembly, she's built a reputation as a tough legislator. Many of her colleagues say they wouldn't want to tangle with her.

"When we talk about me being a conservative, I've proven myself," Walters said. "I speak my mind. I do what I say."

Sidhu, predictably, downplays Walters' experience, saying voters want a fresh face and fresh ideas. He says he has the business mind and the real world experience that Sacramento sorely needs.

He also says Walters has distorted his record and takes particular umbrage with a Walters mailer that dinged him for voting against a full-time immigration control officer at the Anaheim jail. The jail, which doesn't have a lot of traffic, brings in immigrant control on an as-needed basis.

"They're misleading people," Sidhu says in a rare complaint. Like Walters, Sidhu is relentlessly confident he will win, despite the bare knuckle battle ahead. "Nothing was handed to me," Sidhu said. "This is the same thing."

With the June 3rd election bearing down, don't expect either to let up now.

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